Detailed Action
The office action is in response to the communications filed on 01/31/2024.
Notice of AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claims Status
Claims 1-30 are pending in this application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/31/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Prior Art Made of Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Park et al. (Publication No. US 2022/0103644), the prior art discloses that each element network function (NF), such as AMF, SMF, OAM, and RAN constituting a wireless network, may be a consumer NF that requests an analysis result of a network data analytics function (NWDAF).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 3-4, 6, 9-10, 12-13, 15, 18, 20, 24-25, and 27 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kim et al. (Publication No. US 2021/0306887, hereinafter referred to as Kim).
Regarding claims 1 and 10, Kim discloses an apparatus for wireless communication at a first network entity, comprising (The network includes a network data analytics function (NWDAF) [first network entity]; see figure 8.):
a memory (It is inherent that the NWDAF includes a memory in order to receive the first information.); and
at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to (It is inherent that the NWDAF includes at least one processor coupled to the memory in order to receive the first information.);
receive, from a second network entity, first information associated with a radio access network (RAN) (The NWDAF [first network entity] receive a subscription for the RAN information from the application function (AF) [second network entity], wherein the AF may determine a parameter [first information] which is to be provided when subscribing to the NWDAF; see figure 8 step 802 & ¶ 178.); and
store, at the first network entity, the first information associated with the RAN (The NWDAF [first network entity] collect information from the RAN based on AF subscription; see figure 8 step 802a. It is inherent that the information is store in order to be analyzed by the NWDAF.).
Regarding claims 3 and 12, Kim discloses receiving, from a third network entity, a request for second information associated with the RAN (A UE [third network entity] subscribes to a monitoring event notification service [a request for second information] with the NWDAF via the AF; see figure 8 step 801-802 & ¶ 178.); and
transmit, to the third network entity, at least some of the second information associated with the RAN based on the request for the second information (The AF forward the notification event [second information] from the NWDAF to the UE, wherein the notification event is generated based on the information collected from the RAN; see figure 8 step 803-804.).
Regarding claims 4, 13, 20, and 27, Kim discloses transmit, to the second network entity, a request for the first information associated with the RAN (A UE [third network entity] subscribes to a monitoring event notification service [a request for second information] with the NWDAF via the AF; see figure 8 step 801-802 & ¶ 178.), wherein the reception of the first information associated with the RAN is based on the transmitted request for the first information associated with the RAN (The NWDAF forward the notification event [first information] the to the AF, wherein the notification event is generated based on the information collected from the RAN and the a subscription from the AF [second network entity] with the parameter [first information]; see figure 8 step 803-804.).
Regarding claims 6 and 15, Kim discloses transmiting, to the second network entity, a response indicative of the storage of the first information at the first network entity (The NWDAF forward the notification event [first information] the to the AF, wherein the notification event is generated based on the information collected from the RAN and the a subscription from the AF [second network entity] with the parameter [first information]; see figure 8 step 803-804.).
Regarding claim 9, Kim discloses a transceiver coupled to the at least one processor (It is inherent that the NWDAF includes a transceiver coupled to the at least one processor in order to receive the first information.).
Regarding claims 18 and 25, Kim discloses. An apparatus for wireless communication at a second network entity, comprising(The network includes an application function (AF) [second network entity] and a network data analytics function (NWDAF) [first network entity]; see figure 8.):
a memory (It is inherent that the AF includes a memory in order to transmit the first information.); and
at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to (It is inherent that the AF includes at least one processor coupled to the memory in order to transmit the first information.):
transmit, to a first network entity, first information associated with a radio access network (RAN) The NWDAF [first network entity] receive a subscription for the RAN information from the AF [second network entity], wherein the AF may determine a parameter [first information] which is to be provided when subscribing to the NWDAF; see figure 8 step 802 & ¶ 178.); and
receive, from the first network entity, a response indicative of storage of the first information at the first network entity (The NWDAF forward the notification event [first information] the to the AF, wherein the notification event is generated based on the information collected from the RAN and the subscription from the AF [second network entity] with the parameter [first information]; see figure 8 step 803-804.).
Regarding claim 24, Kim discloses a transceiver coupled to the at least one processor (It is inherent that the AF includes a transceiver coupled to the at least one processor in order to transmit the first information.).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 2, 11, 19, and 26 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (Publication No. US 2021/0306887, hereinafter referred to as Kim) in view of Khare (Publication No. US 2022/0256447, hereinafter referred as Khare).
Regarding claims 2, 11, 19, and 26, Kim discloses the NWDAF receiving the subscription request and collecting the information requested, but fails to explicitly disclose that the NWDAF [the first network entity] corresponds to an analytics data repository function (ADRF). However, in analogous art, Khare discloses that the data repository function (DRF) may be co-located with an NWDAF, wherein the DRF is also called analytical data repository function (ADRF); see ¶ 78. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Kim NWDAF element to include the ADRF with Khare in order to receive and store network information from one or more network functions or apparatus within the network; see ¶ 78.
Claims 5, 7, 14, 16, 21-22, and 28-29 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (Publication No. US 2021/0306887, hereinafter referred to as Kim) in view of Dao (Publication No. US 2020/0228420, hereinafter referred as Dao).
Regarding claims 5,14, 21, and 28, Kim discloses the NWDAF receiving the subscription request and collecting the information requested, but fails to explicitly disclose that the request for the first information associated with the RAN further includes at least one of an identifier of the first information, an indication of a reporting trigger associated with the first information, or an indication of a reporting time period associated with the first information. However, in analogous art, Dao discloses that the network function (NF) may send a Data Analytics Request or Data Analytics Subscribe message to the NWDAF; see figure 4 step 414 & ¶ 119. The message from NF-A SI 333 may carry one or more of following information: specific period(s) during the day the NF may receive the analytic data; see ¶ 124. For example, the NF-A SI 333 may want to receive analytical data from a day 1 to a day 2, and/or at 1:00-1:30 AM, and/or every days of the weeks; see ¶ 124. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Kim request message to include the information of Dao in order to receive the analytical data at specified times; see ¶ 78.
Regarding claims 7, 16, 22, and 29, Kim discloses the NWDAF receiving the subscription request and collecting the information requested, but fails to explicitly disclose that the reception of the first information associated with the RAN is based on a reporting schedule. However, in analogous art, Dao discloses that the network function (NF) may send a Data Analytics Request or Data Analytics Subscribe message to the NWDAF; see figure 4 step 414 & ¶ 119. The message from NF-A SI 333 may carry one or more of following information: specific period(s) during the day the NF may receive the analytic data; see ¶ 124. For example, the NF-A SI 333 may want to receive analytical data from a day 1 to a day 2, and/or at 1:00-1:30 AM, and/or every days of the weeks; see ¶ 124. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Kim request message to include the information of Dao in order to receive the analytical data at specified times; see ¶ 78.
Claims 8, 17, 23, and 30 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (Publication Patent No. US 2021/0306887, hereinafter referred to as Kim) in view of Selvanesan (Publication No. US 2021/0160890, hereinafter referred as Selvanesan).
Regarding claims 8, 17, 23, and 30, Kim discloses the NWDAF receiving the subscription request and collecting the information requested, but fails to explicitly disclose that the first information associated with the RAN includes at least one of historical information associated with the RAN, a RAN level analytics report, a result of a minimization of drive test (MDT), a result of a self-organizing network (SON) operation, a result of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) based load balancing, a result of AI or ML based mobility optimization, or a result of an AI or ML based energy saving operation. However, in analogous art, Selvanesan discloses that the NWDAF configured to process the data from the RAN for creating the status report, and signal the status report to the application; see ¶ 138-139. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Kim NWDAF to signal the status report of Selvanesan in order to improved approaches for a reallocation and reservation of resources for high priority communications based on the status report.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HECTOR REYES whose telephone number is (571)270-0239. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6-5.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kevin Bates can be reached on (571) 272-3980. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/H.R/Examiner, Art Unit 2472
/KEVIN T BATES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2472